Explore every episode of the podcast Make it British Podcast
| Title | Pub. Date | Duration | |
|---|---|---|---|
| 300 - Words of wisdom from UK manufacturers featured on this show | 27 Jun 2024 | 00:30:59 | |
Welcome to episode 300! Celebrating the 300th episode of this podcast I look back at some of the amazing guests that I've had on this show from the world of UK fashion and textile manufacturing. Manufacturers that have shared their stories, their challenges, and their successes with us. Episodes / Manufacturers featured in this episode: Episode 102 - David Collinge | John Spencer Textiles Episode 005 - Keith Hanshaw | The Leather Satchel Company Episode 088 - Chris Woodford | Crown Northampton Episode 193 - Ian Maclean | John Smedley MBE Episode 55 - Lance Mitchell | Mitchell Interflex Episode 113 - Ruth Masson | Harris Tweed Episode 290 - Christopher Nieper | David Nieper OBE Episode 96 - Richard Ince | Ince Umbrellas Episode 004 - Jo Ashburner-Farr | Red Dragon Flagmakers Episode 254 - Chris Childs | Contrado Episode 21 - Jenny Holloway | Fashion Enter Episode 31 - Mick Cheema | Basic Premier Episode 299 - A visit to Vagabond bags with Simon Michelson Episode 118 - David Williams | Stoll GB Episode 203 - Saed Saleh | Mars Knitwear Episode 060 - Diana Kakkar | |||
| 299 – A Visit to Vagabond Bags | 20 Jun 2024 | 00:16:50 | |
Join me on a tour round a factory! In this episode I'm chatting with Simon Michelson, owner of Vagabond Bags, a sewing factory in Swindon that makes cosmetic bags, shower caps and hot water bottle covers. Meet some of the people working in the factory, hear about the jobs they do and find out how many shower hats one person can make in a day. Spoiler - it's quite a lot! HANDY LINKS British Brand Accelerator - Work closely with me to start or grow your UK-made brand. Newsletter - Subscribe for a weekly dose of inspiration and advice on making in the UK | |||
| 290 – From the archive: Why UK Manufacturing is More Sustainable with Christopher Nieper OBE | 14 Mar 2024 | 00:36:03 | |
Christopher Nieper OBE is the managing director of David Nieper, a womenswear business in Alfreton in Derbyshire. The firm was set up by Christopher's parents sixty years ago and is now one of the most vertical textile operations in the UK. Christopher recently invested in state-of-the-art digital printing equipment so that the factory can print it's own fabric onsite. David Nieper already prints all their own catalogues and produce their own knitwear in house, alongside the garment production. In this episode you can hear about the research Christopher commissioned from Nottingham university looking at the greenhouse gas emissions produced to make clothing at the David Nieper factory in Derbyshire. The study then compared these findings to the emissions produced by making garments in China, Turkey and Bangladesh and then shipping them to the UK. It makes for very interesting insights into how making in the UK can be quantified as more sustainable. A big advocate for slow fashion, Christopher has also found that his customers keep and wear his clothes 10 times longer than average. Listen to this episode to discover:
This episode is the recording of a talk that Christopher did at Make it British Live! Online event in October 2020. About David Nieper Watch my Instagram reel showing behind the scenes at the David Nieper factory. Stay in Touch British Brand Accelerator - Find out how you can work with me to build your British-made brand | |||
| 203 – 30 years of knitwear manufacturing in Leicester with Mars Knitwear | 12 Nov 2021 | 00:29:56 | |
Join me on a trip to Leicester to meet Said Saleh and Keith Cummings from Mars Knitwear. Based in Wigston, Leicestershire, the chaps at Mars have been making knitwear for over 30 years. Having been manufacturing thousands of pieces of acrylic knitwear for the big store groups, Mars has now gone back to creating smaller quantities of premium knitwear from British wool, lambswool and merino. They even now have their own brand. Discover:
More Mars Knitwear Stay in Touch British Brand Accelerator - Find out how you can work with me to build your British-made brand Join Make it British - become a member of our community and promote your business in our directory or UK-made brands and manufacturers Make it British on YouTube - subscribe to my YouTube channel to watch many of the podcast episodes as videos. | |||
| 202 – How I Dealt With the Copycats and Came Out on Top, Monika Young | 05 Nov 2021 | 00:55:01 | |
Monika Young is the founder and creative director of Monika the Label - a sustainable fashion brand inspired by 70s California and made in the UK. In this episode, Monika tells the story of how she set up and her brand, and what actions she took when she discovered her original designs and prints being copied by fast fashion online retailers.
Discover:
More Monika the Label Stay in Touch British Brand Accelerator - Find out how you can work with me to build your British-made brand Join Make it British - become a member of our community and promote your business in our directory or UK-made brands and manufacturers Make it British on YouTube - subscribe to my YouTube channel to watch many of the podcast episodes as videos. | |||
| 201 – 7 things that successful British-made brands do | 29 Oct 2021 | 00:18:33 | |
What are some of the things that I see successful British-made brands do consistently? In the first episode of series 4 of the Make it British podcast I look at what makes for a great British-made brand.
Discover:
Stay in Touch British Brand Accelerator - Find out how you can work with me to build your British-made brand Join Make it British - become a member of our community and promote your business in our directory or UK-made brands and manufacturers Make it British on YouTube - subscribe to my YouTube channel to watch many of the podcast episodes as videos. | |||
| New Series Coming Soon! | 08 Oct 2021 | 00:03:22 | |
The new series of the Make it British Podcast is coming very, very soon! Make sure you subscribe so you don't miss it. As well as the usual advice and tips for making in the UK, along with interviews with some of my favourite people that manufacture products in Britain, we are doing something a little bit different this series. Listen in to this trailer to find out what it is!! About Kate Hills & Make it British Kate Hills is on a one-woman mission to save UK manufacturing! With a background in working for several large brands and retailers in design and buying roles, she gave up her corporate career to set up Make it British as a way of supporting UK manufacturers and those companies that wanted to make in the UK. Make it British acts as a platform to promote UK-made brands and manufacturers and aims to raise awareness of all of the fantastic manufacturing that still takes place in Britain. Stay in Touch British Brand Accelerator - Find out how you can work with me to build your British-made brand Join Make it British - become a member of our community and promote your business in our directory or UK-made brands and manufacturers Make it British on YouTube - subscribe to my YouTube channel to watch many of the podcast episodes as videos. | |||
| 200 – 20 tips for building a great UK-made brand | 27 Aug 2021 | 00:23:48 | |
I've interviewed some fantastic guests over the past 3 series of the Make it British podcast. To celebrate the milestone which is 200 episodes, I'm bringing you a summary from 21 of the Make it British members that I have interviewed over the last few years. All of them have built great UK-made businesses and have some great advice to impart!
Stay in Touch British Brand Accelerator - Find out how you can work with me to build your British-made brand Join Make it British - become a member of our community and promote your business in our directory or UK-made brands and manufacturers Make it British on YouTube - subscribe to my YouTube channel to watch many of the podcast episodes as videos. | |||
| 199 – 11 tips for starting a UK-made brand | 24 Aug 2021 | 00:18:18 | |
Starting any business can be tough - especially one that involves making products! Whether you are just about start a brand, or you've already launched and it's not quite going to plan, here are 11 tips that will help ensure success. Discover:
Stay in Touch British Brand Accelerator - Find out how you can work with me to build your British-made brand Join Make it British - become a member of our community and promote your business in our directory or UK-made brands and manufacturers Make it British on YouTube - subscribe to my YouTube channel to watch many of the podcast episodes as videos. | |||
| 198 – How long does it take to launch a new product? | 20 Aug 2021 | 00:13:43 | |
Probably one of the questions that I get asked more than any other is 'how long will it take me to launch a new product if I make it in the UK?' The short answer is - 'how long is a piece of string!' The long answer is more complex, and involves taking into account several different variables. All of which I cover in this episode.
Stay in Touch British Brand Accelerator - Find out how you can work with me to build your British-made brand Join Make it British - become a member of our community and promote your business in our directory or UK-made brands and manufacturers Make it British on YouTube - subscribe to my YouTube channel to watch many of the podcast episodes as videos. | |||
| 197 – The Importance of Quality – Maria Grachvogel | 17 Aug 2021 | 00:42:14 | |
London-based designer Maria Grachvogel is renowned for her clever use of cutting to flatter the female figure. In this interview, Maria talks about why she has chosen to use more UK manufacturers for her collection, and how changing her business model has helped her to build closer relationships with her clients. She also discusses the importance of quality, and how buying less, of better quality would solve many of the sustainability issues with clothing and fashion. Discover:
More Maria Grachvogel Stay in Touch British Brand Accelerator - Find out how you can work with me to build your British-made brand Join Make it British - become a member of our community and promote your business in our directory or UK-made brands and manufacturers Make it British on YouTube - subscribe to my YouTube channel to watch many of the podcast episodes as videos. | |||
| 196 – How to follow up with a manufacturer | 13 Aug 2021 | 00:07:24 | |
How do you follow up with a manufacturer (and have a better chance of a response)? In this episode I give you some great tips on how to make sure that you get a response back from a manufacturer ever time. This episode will be particularly useful for anyone who wants to follow up with someone that they met at an event or trade show. Discover:
Stay in Touch British Brand Accelerator - Find out how you can work with me to build your British-made brand Join Make it British - become a member of our community and promote your business in our directory or UK-made brands and manufacturers Make it British on YouTube - subscribe to my YouTube channel to watch many of the podcast episodes as videos. | |||
| 195 – Made in Britain Starts Here – Andy Ogden | 10 Aug 2021 | 00:41:47 | |
One of our epidode's from the very first series that is well worth a revisit is this one with Andy Ogden at English Fine Cottons. Greater Manchester was once known as cottonopolis because it was the home to the world’s cotton yarn and fabric production during the industrial revolution. At the turn of the Twentieth Century, there were 9,000 people employed in the cotton industry in Ashton-under-Lyne, operating 2 million spindles. But after years of decline, the last commercial cotton spinning mill in the UK closed. Three years ago a company called Culimeta-Saveguard, who had been spinning technical fibres in Dunkenfield on the outskirts of Manchester decided to bring cotton spinning back to the UK. English Fine Cottons now supplies well-known designer brands and high street retailers with cotton yarn that is used in bedding, shirts and outerwear. I took a tour around the mill back in 2018 and chatted with Andy Ogden, General Manager of English Fine Cottons. In this interview, you’ll hear all about how English Fine Cottons came about, and how they are closing one of the broken loops in the UK’s fragmented textile supply chain. More about English Fine Cottons My visit to Tower Mill when it was still a building site in 2016 Discover:
Stay in Touch British Brand Accelerator - Find out how you can work with me to build your British-made brand Join Make it British - become a member of our community and promote your business in our directory or UK-made brands and manufacturers Make it British on YouTube - subscribe to my YouTube channel to watch many of the podcast episodes as videos. | |||
| 289 – Creating Adaptive Clothing with Caron McLuckie from Bealies Adaptive Wear | 07 Mar 2024 | 00:30:45 | |
In this episode of the Make it British podcast, Karen McCluckie, the director of Bealies Adaptive Wear, shares her inspiring journey of creating adaptive clothing for wheelchair users and disabled individuals. Motivated by her son's disability and the lack of suitable clothing options in the market, Karen embarked on a mission to design stylish and functional joggers tailored to the needs of wheelchair users. From the initial idea to overcoming challenges and securing funding, Karen discusses the process of bringing her innovative designs to the market while juggling her role as a social worker. With a commitment to UK manufacturing and a vision for expanding her product range, Karen's story highlights the power of innovation and determination in creating inclusive fashion solutions. About Caron McCluckie | |||
| 194 – What To Do When Manufacturing Goes Wrong | 06 Aug 2021 | 00:12:51 | |
Unfortunately, mistakes can and do, happen in manufacturing, but there are ways to avoid them. In this episode, we look at the main reasons that manufacturing a product usually goes wrong, how to resolve the situation if it does and how to make sure that it doesn’t happen again. Discover:
Stay in Touch British Brand Accelerator - Find out how you can work with me to build your British-made brand Join Make it British - become a member of our community and promote your business in our directory or UK-made brands and manufacturers Make it British on YouTube - subscribe to my YouTube channel to watch many of the podcast episodes as videos. | |||
| 193 – Running the Oldest Factory in the UK – Ian Maclean MBE | 03 Aug 2021 | 00:23:14 | |
In this episode, I chat to Ian Maclean, managing director of John Smedley – the oldest operating factory in the world. John Smedley is one of the finest knitwear manufacturers in the world. The company was established 235 years ago, at the start of the Industrial Revolution, and they still operate out of the same factory in Matlock in Derbyshire. In the interview, Ian talks about the challenges that come with operating out of such an old mill, and how he is making his manufacturing more sustainable by investing in upgrades to the mill which will save energy and allow the company to survive for another two hundred years. Discover:
More about John Smedley
Stay in Touch British Brand Accelerator - Find out how you can work with me to build your British-made brand Join Make it British - become a member of our community and promote your business in our directory or UK-made brands and manufacturers Make it British on YouTube - subscribe to my YouTube channel to watch many of the podcast episodes as videos. | |||
| 192 – Why you should visit a factory | 30 Jul 2021 | 00:10:19 | |
I think visiting a factory is essential for anyone that is developing a new product. One of the benefits of making in the UK is that factory visiting is far easier than if you are making your products overseas. In this episode, I run through my 7 reasons why you should be visiting a factory – and hopefully, if you’re not doing so already, I will have convinced you by the end! Discover:
Stay in Touch British Brand Accelerator - Find out how you can work with me to build your British-made brand Join Make it British - become a member of our community and promote your business in our directory or UK-made brands and manufacturers Make it British on YouTube - subscribe to my YouTube channel to watch many of the podcast episodes as videos. | |||
| 191 –Building a great British brand – Julie Deane CBE | 27 Jul 2021 | 00:56:07 | |
Julie Deane CBE, set up the Cambridge Satchel Company in 2008 with £600 and went on to make it a global, multi-million-pound business. But behind the success story, there was a lot of hard work, including having to set up her own factory in Leicestershire almost overnight. In this interview, she tells the story behind the brand and talks about how the business has evolved over the last 12 years.
Discover:
More Cambridge Satchel Company About the Cambridge Satchel Company
Stay in Touch British Brand Accelerator - Find out how you can work with me to build your British-made brand Join Make it British - become a member of our community and promote your business in our directory or UK-made brands and manufacturers Make it British on YouTube - subscribe to my YouTube channel to watch many of the podcast episodes as videos. | |||
| 190 – Why UK manufacturers don’t sample for free | 23 Jul 2021 | 00:12:08 | |
Some people think manufacturers should do any initial work for no charge in order to pitch for your business. But that’s often not the case. In this episode, I explain why many UK manufacturers charge for sampling – and how that can be a good thing. Discover:
Stay in Touch British Brand Accelerator - Find out how you can work with me to build your British-made brand Join Make it British - become a member of our community and promote your business in our directory or UK-made brands and manufacturers Make it British on YouTube - subscribe to my YouTube channel to watch many of the podcast episodes as videos. | |||
| 189 – Calling out Boohoo for using unethical garment factories – Dominique Muller | 20 Jul 2021 | 00:43:45 | |
Labour Behind the Label is a workers rights organisation that fights for living wages for garment workers. They have produced a report about the unethical working practices of factories in Leicester making for Boohoo. The industry has often called into question how Boohoo can sell dresses for £4 and still make them ethically in the UK, and this report by Labour Behind the Label makes for distressing reading. Talking of staff made to work in factories making Boohoo clothes whilst suffering from Covid 19. Dominique Muller is the policy director at Labour Behind the Label, and in this episode, she talks about what needs to be done to ensure workers in Leicester are treated fairly and paid a living wage. Discover:
About Labour Behind the Label Boohoo & Covid 19 – The people behind the profits Clean Clothes Campaign – improving working conditions in the global garment industry Fashion Checker – find out if the brands you buy from are paying their factory workers a living wage Why we need transparent supply chains
Stay in Touch British Brand Accelerator - Find out how you can work with me to build your British-made brand Join Make it British - become a member of our community and promote your business in our directory or UK-made brands and manufacturers | |||
| 188 – 10 things that make British-made businesses great | 16 Jul 2021 | 00:23:21 | |
In this episode, I look back over the first 100 episodes of this show to find out what makes British-made businesses great. There are many common themes running through the last 100 episodes and that I’ve heard again and again from those I’ve interviewed. Here are the 10 things that make British-made businesses great: UK manufacturers are partners to the businesses they make for Katya Wildman (Ep 10), Sian Reekie (23), Tom Glover (72) Transparency is integral to their supply chain Jenny Holloway (21), Adam Robertson (51), Sophie Slater (94) Sustainability is at the forefront of everything they do Ian Maclean (14), Mick Cheema (31) They are finding different ways to reach the customer James Eden (2) Many of them are family businesses Edward Sexton (12), Martin Lowe (47), Peter Phillips (54), Lance Mitchell (55), Chris Woodford (88) Authenticity is important to them Simon Middleton (074) Craftsmanship is worth preserving Keith Hanshaw (6), Genevieve Sweeney (39), Kate Dawson (64), Jenny Holloway (21), Barbara Burton (70) Quality is at their core Andy Ogden (33), Tony Kelly (77), Joel Chudleigh (82), Richard Ince (96), Elaine Stewart (92) It’s not about the money Hebtroco (68), Heraldic Pottery (84) They wouldn’t manufacture anywhere else! Katherine Hooker (35), Tori Murphy (61) Stay in Touch British Brand Accelerator - Find out how you can work with me to build your British-made brand | |||
| 187 – How to make sales on live video – Lindsey James, Violet Flamingo | 13 Jul 2021 | 00:40:36 | |
Today I’m chatting to Lindsey James, who is the founder of womenswear brand Violet Flamingo. Lindsey was making and selling bespoke clothing for her clients from her studio before covid hit. Finding herself with no way to reach customers during lockdown, she started to do regular Facebook live calls from her studio, talking to her customers just as she would do if they were visiting her in person. She soon found that the calls were a great way for her to continue serving her customers during lockdown. Lindsey has some great tips for anyone that says they don’t do live video! Discover:
More Lindsey James & Violet Flamingo Stay in Touch British Brand Accelerator - Find out how you can work with me to build your British-made brand Join Make it British - become a member of our community and promote your business in our directory or UK-made brands and manufacturers Make it British on YouTube - subscribe to my YouTube channel to watch many of the podcast episodes as videos. | |||
| 186 – Taking a break! | 09 Jul 2021 | 00:06:31 | |
Just a quick one today, to say that I'm taking a break from recording new episodes after next week. In the meantime, I have selected 10 of the best episodes from the archive for your enjoyment, which will be episodes no.s 188 - 197 I'll be back on 20th August (not 13th as I said on the audio!) with a brand new solo episode no.198
Stay in Touch British Brand Accelerator - Find out how you can work with me to build your British-made brand Join Make it British - become a member of our community and promote your business in our directory or UK-made brands and manufacturers Make it British on YouTube - subscribe to my YouTube channel to watch many of the podcast episodes as videos. | |||
| 185 – Reeducating Customers to Buy Better and Buy Less – Rita Britton | 06 Jul 2021 | 00:15:49 | |
Rita Britton is somewhat of a fashion legend. For 50 years she ran an independent fashion store in Barnsley, Yorkshire called Polyanna, which was an International hub for luxury fashion stocked with Rita's unique style. When Polyanna closed in 2014, Rita focused on developing her own brand, Nomad, made in the UK with fabrics sourced from Yorkshire mills such as Abraham Moon and Joshua Ellis. Rita has a very loyal customer base, and she knows a thing or two about retail and fashion. So it was fascinating to hear her thoughts on manufacturing in the UK as part of a panel discussion we held at the Make it British virtual event in 2020. I’ve picked out some of Rita’s best bits for you to listen to here on the podcast, including her thoughts on educating people to buy better and buy less, why there has never been a better time to bring manufacturing back home, and how the UK makes some of the best textiles in the world, yet we are encouraging young people to work in nail bars and do eyebrows rather than work someone and make clothes! Literally, every line Rita comes up with is a gem - there are some real pearls of wisdom in here, which are great to hear from someone that has been in the fashion industry for as long as Rita has. Discover:
More Rita Britton & Nomad Atelier Stay in Touch British Brand Accelerator - Find out how you can work with me to build your British-made brand Join Make it British - become a member of our community and promote your business in our directory or UK-made brands and manufacturers Make it British on YouTube - subscribe to my YouTube channel to watch many of the podcast episodes as videos. | |||
| 288 – Why You Should Visit Your Factory | 29 Feb 2024 | 00:15:16 | |
This week I’ve been in the Midlands visiting factories, which is always one of my favourite things to do. I’d planned to take my podcast mic with me and get an episode to you today with an interview with one of the manufacturers, but sadly I was in such a rush when I set off early Sunday morning that I left my mic behind! So on today’s episode instead I'm discussing one of the amazing factories I went to see, and also sharing a recording from the archives - which is to encourage you to get out there and visit factories yourself! | |||
| 184 – Should you use a production consultant to help make your products? | 02 Jul 2021 | 00:19:51 | |
If you want to develop a range of products but have little manufacturing experience you might be thinking of employing the services of a production consultant.In this episode, we’re going to look out what services a production consultant might offer, and why you might not want to use one if you want to manufacture in the UK.I’ve also got advice on how to choose a production consultant if you decide to go down that route, and what the alternatives are if you don’t want to use a third party to manage your production. Discover:
Related Episodes Episode 158 - What is a critical path and why do you need one? Stay in Touch British Brand Accelerator - Find out how you can work with me to build your British-made brand Join Make it British - become a member of our community and promote your business in our directory or UK-made brands and manufacturers Make it British on YouTube - subscribe to my YouTube channel to watch many of the podcast episodes as videos. | |||
| 183 – It was a stupid idea, now it’s a million pound business – Brant Richards | 29 Jun 2021 | 00:51:44 | |
Brant Richards is one of the founders of HebTroCo. 5 years ago, he and his business partner Ed had an idea in the pub - to start making trousers in Hebden Bridge, a town in Yorkshire that was once renowned for its trouser making.They launched the business on Kickstarter, knowing nothing about making trousers, and within five hours of switching on their crowd-funding campaign they had sold their first 176 pairs. So Brant and Ed quit their jobs and went on a journey that has seen them turnover more than a million pounds. Since their initial launch they’ve added jeans, shirts, socks and the now pretty much infamous action blanket. Discover:
More HebTroCo Episode 068 - HebTroCo How to make a million in Brexit Britain - HebTroCo - Make it British Live! 2019 Stay in Touch British Brand Accelerator - Find out how you can work with me to build your British-made brand Join Make it British - become a member of our community and promote your business in our directory or UK-made brands and manufacturers Make it British on YouTube - subscribe to my YouTube channel to watch many of the podcast episodes as videos. | |||
| 182 – Why Google is the last place to look for UK manufacturers | 25 Jun 2021 | 00:11:37 | |
Do you want a manufacturer in the UK? On today's episode I discuss the reasons why searching in Google for a manufacturer to make your products could be a very costly mistake to make. Discover:
Stay in Touch British Brand Accelerator - Find out how you can work with me to build your British-made brand Join Make it British - become a member of our community and promote your business in our directory or UK-made brands and manufacturers Make it British on YouTube - subscribe to my YouTube channel to watch many of the podcast episodes as videos. | |||
| 181 – Looking after Scotland’s oldest cashmere brand – Simon Cotton | 22 Jun 2021 | 00:35:06 | |
Johnstons of Elgin is the largest textile manufacturer in the UK. The 223-year-old company employs over 1,000 people and was the first to bring cashmere weaving to Scotland. Simon Cotton, the chief executive of Johnstons, describes himself as working for the most exciting company in the UK. Listen to find out how he plans to make the company last long into their next 200 years. Discover:
More Johnstons of Elgin Stay in Touch British Brand Accelerator - Find out how you can work with me to build your British-made brand Join Make it British - become a member of our community and promote your business in our directory or UK-made brands and manufacturers Make it British on YouTube - subscribe to my YouTube channel to watch many of the podcast episodes as videos. | |||
| 180 – LIVE: How to make more money making in the UK | 18 Jun 2021 | 00:15:48 | |
This episode is a lesson to anyone that wants to make in the UK but is struggling to make their pricing work.YES, it is possible to have a thriving and sustainable brand that is made in the UK and be profitable. You just need to change the way you look at things. Discover:
Stay in Touch British Brand Accelerator - Find out how you can work with me to build your British-made brand Join Make it British - become a member of our community and promote your business in our directory or UK-made brands and manufacturers Make it British on YouTube - subscribe to my YouTube channel to watch many of the podcast episodes as videos. | |||
| 179 – Growing a UK-made lifestyle brand – Rebecca J Mills | 15 Jun 2021 | 00:46:30 | |
Rebecca Mills has a background in buying and retail for some big-name brands, yet when it came to running her own business she found it very different. In this episode, she talks about how different it is running her own brand and some of the common mistakes that it is easy to make when you love designing products! Discover:
More Rebecca J Mills Stay in Touch British Brand Accelerator - Find out how you can work with me to build your British-made brand Join Make it British - become a member of our community and promote your business in our directory or UK-made brands and manufacturers Make it British on YouTube - subscribe to my YouTube channel to watch many of the podcast episodes as videos. | |||
| 178 – The real reason you aren’t making any money with your UK-made business | 11 Jun 2021 | 00:10:54 | |
I get contacted all the time by people looking for ‘more affordable’ UK manufacturers. They’re not making any money in their business and they believe it’s all the manufacturer’s fault because their prices are too high.
But when I dig a little deeper, often I find that there are other parts of the business that need to be addressed first in order for them to make any money. So before you decide to jump ship from your current manufacturer, let’s ask a few questions and see what else might need to be changed first... Apply for my live private training “The 3-part framework for developing profitable UK-made products with ease” - katehills.co.uk/framework Discover:
Stay in Touch British Brand Accelerator - Find out how you can work with me to build your British-made brand Join Make it British - become a member of our community and promote your business in our directory or UK-made brands and manufacturers Make it British on YouTube - subscribe to my YouTube channel to watch many of the podcast episodes as videos. | |||
| 177 – A guide to digital textile printing – Debbie McKeegan, Texintel | 08 Jun 2021 | 00:56:19 | |
Debbie McKeegan has over 30 years experience in textile printing - specifically digital printing. She is the founder of TexIntel, a platform that provides fantastic knowledge and advice to the digital print industry and also the host of the Texintel podcast. In this episode Debbie answers all your burning questions about digital printing. So if you find fabric printing, particularly digital fabric printing, confusing and frustrating, this episode will help to address many of your questions. Discover:
Stay in Touch British Brand Accelerator - Find out how you can work with me to build your British-made brand Join Make it British - become a member of our community and promote your business in our directory or UK-made brands and manufacturers Make it British on YouTube - subscribe to my YouTube channel to watch many of the podcast episodes as videos. | |||
| 176 – When should you choose making overseas versus making in the UK? | 04 Jun 2021 | 00:14:28 | |
There are really four different scenarios in which it's probably better to manufacture overseas than in the UK.In this episode, I run through what those four different cases are. Discover:
Stay in Touch British Brand Accelerator - Find out how you can work with me to build your British-made brand Join Make it British - become a member of our community and promote your business in our directory or UK-made brands and manufacturers Make it British on YouTube - subscribe to my YouTube channel to watch many of the podcast episodes as videos. | |||
| 175 – The benefits of lean manufacturing – James Stewart, Lean Practitioner | 01 Jun 2021 | 00:38:25 | |
James Stewart is an experienced lean practitioner who has worked with Burberry and Fashion Enter to help streamline their manufacturing process. ‘Lean’ is a method for producing products in smaller batches, closer to the customer, rather than making zillions of products overseas that no one wants to buy. Anyone that manufactures sustainably and locally in the UK, is in fact using some lean principles in their business, even if they aren’t aware that they are. In this episode James discusses the benefits of lean manufacturing, and how it can give UK manufacturers an advantage. Book mentioned in this episode: The Lean Turnaround Discover:
Stay in Touch British Brand Accelerator - Find out how you can work with me to build your British-made brand Join Make it British - become a member of our community and promote your business in our directory or UK-made brands and manufacturers Make it British on YouTube - subscribe to my YouTube channel to watch many of the podcast episodes as videos. | |||
| 287 – How To Sell Your Products | 22 Feb 2024 | 00:12:11 | |
Today's episode is all about selling and sales, and how it's closely linked to product development. A lot of creative business owners say that they aren't any good at selling, so the natural tendency is to drop their prices or default back to making more products. I'm going to give you a different way of looking at sales, so that selling doesn't make you feel like a used car salesman. | |||
| 174 – Why are your products not selling? | 28 May 2021 | 00:15:28 | |
If your products aren’t selling - don’t get disheartened! There can be many reasons why products don’t sell, but there are also lots of things you can do to make sure they have the best chance of success. So before you think about slashing your prices, take a listen to this episode. Discover:
Book mentioned in this episode: The Lean Start Up Related Episodes Ep152 - Are you charging enough for your UK-made products? Stay in Touch British Brand Accelerator - Find out how you can work with me to build your British-made brand Join Make it British - become a member of our community and promote your business in our directory or UK-made brands and manufacturers Make it British on YouTube - subscribe to my YouTube channel to watch many of the podcast episodes as videos. | |||
| 173 – Launching an Organic Skincare Brand – Hannah Lovegrove | 25 May 2021 | 00:32:33 | |
In an industry that is dominated by big brands, how can you stand out from the crowd and launch something new? In this episode, I chat to Hannah Lovegrove, co-founder of Lovegrove essentials, about what it takes to launch an organics skincare brand that is made in the UK. Hannah started her award-winning business in 2015 with her daughter Hayley. She has some great advice for how she has achieved such success by putting the customer first and ensuring the highest standards in everything that the company does. Discover:
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| 172 – Should you sell your UK-made products on an online marketplace? | 21 May 2021 | 00:11:18 | |
What are some of the pros and cons of selling your products on an online marketplace?And how do you know which ones you should be on? Along with the well-established online marketplaces such as Etsy and Not on the High Street, there are lots of new ones springing up. Many of these specialise in certain niches, including a few newcomers who sell only UK-made goods. Discover:
Stay in Touch British Brand Accelerator - Find out how you can work with me to build your British-made brand Join Make it British - become a member of our community and promote your business in our directory or UK-made brands and manufacturers Make it British on YouTube - subscribe to my YouTube channel to watch many of the podcast episodes as videos. | |||
| 171 – How we set up a micro swimwear factory – Rich Keegan & Linda Souto Maior | 18 May 2021 | 00:53:39 | |
Rich and Linda make stunning, digitally printed swimwear under the label Usual Objections. They manufacture all of their products from a micro-factory in their family home in Hackney, which they also share with 2 children and a blind pug! In this episode, they tell me about what made them decide to manufacture everything themselves, having tried doing so with several UK manufacturers first, and what lessons they’ve learnt along the way. It’s great advice for anyone who's thinking of launching a brand or setting up their own micro-manufacturing unit.
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Stay in Touch British Brand Accelerator - Find out how you can work with me to build your British-made brand Join Make it British - become a member of our community and promote your business in our directory or UK-made brands and manufacturers Make it British on YouTube - subscribe to my YouTube channel to watch many of the podcast episodes as videos. | |||
| 170 – Are you confusing mark-up and margin? | 14 May 2021 | 00:10:39 | |
When it comes to working out your selling prices, one of the biggest mistakes people make is getting their margin and mark-up all mixed up! It’s easily done as the two words are pretty similar. But it can be a costly mistake to make if you get it wrong. In this episode, I explain what the difference is between a margin and a mark-up, and what percentages you should be aiming for depending on how you are selling your products. Discover:
Stay in Touch British Brand Accelerator - Find out how you can work with me to build your British-made brand Join Make it British - become a member of our community and promote your business in our directory or UK-made brands and manufacturers Make it British on YouTube - subscribe to my YouTube channel to watch many of the podcast episodes as videos. | |||
| 169 – From make-up artist to product innovator – Phyllis Cohen, Face Lace | 11 May 2021 | 00:50:58 | |
On today’s episode, we’re being joined by make-up artist Phyllis Cohen, who is also the founder of a business called Face Lace. Phyllis started her career as a make-up artist in the ‘80s during the New Romantic era when her illustrative make-up appeared in magazines such as i-D. She’s also worked her make-up magic on everyone from David Bowie and Lady Gaga to Zandra Rhodes. Phyllis is a great example of someone who had an idea for a product that no one had ever made before, and through sheer determination and meeting the right UK manufacturer at the right time she was able to get her idea to market. Her Face Lace is something to behold. If you have not come across Face Lace before, they are elaborate makeup designs that can be applied in a few seconds, look precise, symmetrical and stay perfect until they came off. The original designs looked like lace had been drawn onto the face, hence the name, but other pieces within the collection are encrusted with crystals, pearls and holographic materials. Of course, with every novel new product, there always follows the copycats. And Phyllis tells of the trouble she has had with counterfeits of her designs appearing which she has had to overcome. You can see some of Phyllis iconic work as a make-up artist here: Phyllis Cohen Make-up Archives Discover:
Stay in Touch British Brand Accelerator - Find out how you can work with me to build your British-made brand Join Make it British - become a member of our community and promote your business in our directory or UK-made brands and manufacturers Make it British on YouTube - subscribe to my YouTube channel to watch many of the podcast episodes as videos. | |||
| 168 – How much does it cost to start a UK-made brand? | 07 May 2021 | 00:19:03 | |
There are a lot of different costs involved in launching a brand. But in this episode, I break it down into four main segments: prototyping; stock; marketing and admin. I also advise on what the typical amount is that new businesses spend in getting their brand off the ground, and smart ways that you can reduce those costs. Discover:
Stay in Touch British Brand Accelerator - Find out how you can work with me to build your British-made brand Join Make it British - become a member of our community and promote your business in our directory or UK-made brands and manufacturers Make it British on YouTube - subscribe to my YouTube channel to watch many of the podcast episodes as videos. | |||
| 167 – Building a Business With Your Customer in Mind – Rowena Howie | 04 May 2021 | 00:40:39 | |
Rowena Howie’s Revival Retro store in central London is a destination shop for fans of her flattering dresses and stylish accessories. In this episode we chat about how Rowena has pivoted her business to online whilst the shop has been closed; how the government could help independent retailers; and how she puts the customer at the heart of everything she does. She’s also got some great advice for any small business that is thinking of working with influencers. Discover:
Stay in Touch British Brand Accelerator - Find out how you can work with me to build your British-made brand Join Make it British - become a member of our community and promote your business in our directory or UK-made brands and manufacturers Make it British on YouTube - subscribe to my YouTube channel to watch many of the podcast episodes as videos. | |||
| 166 – 12 Questions to ask a new manufacturer | 30 Apr 2021 | 00:19:12 | |
Choosing a manufacturer is one of the most important decisions you can make in the development of your products, so it’s important to find the right one. When you are assessing whether a manufacturer is a good fit for you there are certain questions that you should ask them. Some of these questions you may want to ask over the phone initially, in order to narrow down your choice, but others, such as those about price, are best approached in a face to face situation. In this episode, I cover some of the key questions you should ask a manufacturer to get to know them better. Discover:
Stay in Touch British Brand Accelerator - Find out how you can work with me to build your British-made brand Join Make it British - become a member of our community and promote your business in our directory or UK-made brands and manufacturers Make it British on YouTube - subscribe to my YouTube channel to watch many of the podcast episodes as videos. | |||
| 165 – How the pandemic has changed our manufacturing business – Jenny Holloway | 27 Apr 2021 | 00:52:17 | |
Today I’m chatting to UK garment manufacturer Jenny Holloway who I first featured on this show on episode 21 back in January 2019. Jenny runs Fashion Enter, a social enterprise that makes 1,000s of garments every week in their North London factory. Fashion Enter also runs a training academy teaching people the essential skills needed to work in fashion production and recently set up another factory in Wales which employs over 70 people. In this episode, we catch up on what Jenny has been up to in the last two years, including making PPE and developing a totally reusable isolation gown. Jenny offers great insight into how she sees the relationship between the big retailers and UK manufacturers developing, and what the future holds for garment manufacturers as they turn into smart factories making on-demand and one-of-a-kind pieces. Episode 21 featuring Jenny Holloway Discover:
More about Fashion Enter
Stay in Touch British Brand Accelerator - Find out how you can work with me to build your British-made brand Join Make it British - become a member of our community and promote your business in our directory or UK-made brands and manufacturers Make it British on YouTube - subscribe to my YouTube channel to watch many of the podcast episodes as videos. | |||
| 286 – 21 Tips for Building a Great British Brand | 15 Feb 2024 | 00:23:35 | |
Hear from 21 business founders as they give their tips on starting and growing a British-made brand. These snippets were taken from 21 different guest interviews on this podcast. If you want to listen to the full episodes you can find them as follows: Ep.142 Julie Deane, Cambridge Satchel Company Ep.076 Jack Millington, Billy Tannery Ep.143 Kath Whitworth, Celtic & Co Ep. 41 Paul Smithers, Halycon Blue Ep 179 Rebecca J Mills Ep 171 Rich Keegan & Linda Souto Maior, Usual Objections Ep 23 Sian Reekie, Hettie Co Ep 78 Katie Walker Furniture Ep 27 Matt Booth, Both Barrells Ep 139 Rachael Attwood, Britannical Ep 108 Steff McGrath, Something Wicked Ep 82 Joel, Chudleigh, Made to Last Ep 96 Richard Ince, James Ince & Sons Umbrellas Ep 120 Emma Willis Ep 39 Genevieve Sweeney Ep 129 Samanth Brooke, Waring Brooke Ep 88 Chris Woodford, Crown Northampton Ep 141 Emma Mathews, Socko Ep 153 Gillian Tusting, Tusting Ep 86 | |||
| 164 – 8 Things to look out for when visiting a manufacturer | 23 Apr 2021 | 00:11:26 | |
When you go to visit any manufacturer for the first time it’s your opportunity to find out exactly how they operate. The more factories you visit the more you come to learn what makes a good fit for you and your business. But there are several key aspects to a well-run factory that you can look out for that should help to inform your decision as to whether you’re in a good place. Discover:
Stay in Touch British Brand Accelerator - Find out how you can work with me to build your British-made brand Join Make it British - become a member of our community and promote your business in our directory or UK-made brands and manufacturers Make it British on YouTube - subscribe to my YouTube channel to watch many of the podcast episodes as videos. | |||
| 163 – How to Use Data to Transform Your Business – Jodi Muter-Hamilton | 20 Apr 2021 | 00:57:15 | |
Data and digital are drastically changing how we all shop and the way that products are made. In this conversation recorded at Make it British Live! Online, a panel of digital experts from within the fashion industry discuss the importance of data for businesses both large and small, and how it can initiate much more personalised conversations with customers. The panel is chaired by Jodi Muter-Hamilton, who is joined by Cathy McCabe from Proximity Insight, Craig Crawford from Crawford IT, Peter Needle from Segura and Chloe Watts from chloédigital. Watch the video recording of this episode. Discover:
More about the speakers Jodi Muter-Hamilton, Founder of Black Neon Digital (Now called Other Day) Cathy McCabe, CEO of Proximity Insight Craig Crawford, VP & Founder of Crawford IT Peter Needle, CEO of Segura Chloe Watts, Founder of chloédigital Jodi Muter-Hamilton podcast > A vision of a world built with integrity Stay in Touch British Brand Accelerator - Find out how you can work with me to build your British-made brand Join Make it British - become a member of our community and promote your business in our directory or UK-made brands and manufacturers Make it British on YouTube - subscribe to my YouTube channel to watch many of the podcast episodes as videos. | |||
| 162 – Fail to plan…plan to fail! | 16 Apr 2021 | 00:12:12 | |
A range plan is an essential tool for any product business. Without it you are setting yourself up for failure. Yet many of the small businesses that I speak to that are developing products say they don’t have a range plan. Or they don’t even know what it is! So in this episode, I explain what a range plan is and why it’s a valuable tool for our business. And if you really feel like geeking out on why you should not offer your customers too much choice, take a look at this study I mention in this episode.
Discover:
Stay in Touch British Brand Accelerator - Find out how you can work with me to build your British-made brand Join Make it British - become a member of our community and promote your business in our directory or UK-made brands and manufacturers Make it British on YouTube - subscribe to my YouTube channel to watch many of the podcast episodes as videos. | |||